THE INTRACTABLE CAMEL

Evening Star, Issue 23864, 19 April 1941, Page 3

THE INTRACTABLE CAMEL

The Souialiland Camel Corps has' a fino romantic sound, and it is with some regret that one hoars that it, like everything else in the world, is to be " mechanised." Hut it seems probahle that one advantage of the change will he an improvement in discipline. It was Sir F. Palgrave who gave the 'beast of the desert his most distinctive testimonial (though that is not quite the word) :

The camel is by no means docile —very much the contrary. He takes no heed of his rider, pays no attention whether he is on his back or not, walks straight on when once set agoing, merely because he is too stupid to turn aside, and then, should some tempting thorn or green branch allure him out of the path, continues to walk on in the new direction simply because he is too dull to turn back into the right road. In a word, he is from first to last an nndomesticated and savage animal, rendered serviceable by stupidity alone, without much skill mi his master’s part, or any co-operation on his own, save that of an extreme passivoncss. Neither attachment nor even habit impresses him : never tame, though not wideawake enough to be exactly wild.

And why. with such a record, is ho so supercilious? Ilecanse. say the Faithful, he alone knows the hundredth name of Allah, and he won’t tell it.—‘ Observer.’